632 Elysian Fields New Orleans, LA 70112 October 17, 1947
My Dearest Sister,
These past few months have been long and hard on me, as I’m sure they have been increcibly stressful on you. So much has happened since all of the hustle and bustle of your visit that I hardly know where to start this letter.
I’m sure you are wondering exactly how your situation at the hospital came to be, and although I know it was cruel of me not to explain earlier, I have only recently found the words necessary.
When you came to us last summer, you seemed distraught. You told me about losing Belle Riev, but you didn’t tell me the truth. As the summer drug on, slowly, your lies became exposed, and you became more and more distressed. Stanley and I also began noticing your dependency on alcohol. You began to imagine problems in my relationship with my husband that simply don’t exist. You seemed to become obsessed with the idea that I was unsafe and that I needed to run away from my beloved Stanley for my safety, and that of my child. You even went so far as to accuse him of assaulting you sexually, when we both know that such an occurence did not happen. You then thrust yourself into a fantasy land and believed that your old beau from college was coming to your rescue.
You must understand that after a season full of events such as this, Stanley and I became extremely worried about your mental health. It seemed to us, that the best, and most logical, approach would be to seek professional help for you. Although this may seem like an insensitive action, remember that I love you dearly, and I am afraid that this extreme measure had to be taken.
I do hope that you will understand my concerns and point of view on behalf of this matter.
I wish you well, and hope to see you soon. Sincerely, Stella
New Orleans, LA 70112
October 17, 1947
My Dearest Sister,
These past few months have been long and hard on me, as I’m sure they have been increcibly stressful on you. So much has happened since all of the hustle and bustle of your visit that I hardly know where to start this letter.
I’m sure you are wondering exactly how your situation at the hospital came to be, and although I know it was cruel of me not to explain earlier, I have only recently found the words necessary.
When you came to us last summer, you seemed distraught. You told me about losing Belle Riev, but you didn’t tell me the truth. As the summer drug on, slowly, your lies became exposed, and you became more and more distressed. Stanley and I also began noticing your dependency on alcohol. You began to imagine problems in my relationship with my husband that simply don’t exist. You seemed to become obsessed with the idea that I was unsafe and that I needed to run away from my beloved Stanley for my safety, and that of my child. You even went so far as to accuse him of assaulting you sexually, when we both know that such an occurence did not happen. You then thrust yourself into a fantasy land and believed that your old beau from college was coming to your rescue.
You must understand that after a season full of events such as this, Stanley and I became extremely worried about your mental health. It seemed to us, that the best, and most logical, approach would be to seek professional help for you. Although this may seem like an insensitive action, remember that I love you dearly, and I am afraid that this extreme measure had to be taken.
I do hope that you will understand my concerns and point of view on behalf of this matter.
I wish you well, and hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Stella